Paula Wilcox, the 76-year-old actor best known for her roles in Coronation Street and The Lovers, has opened up about fame, fears, and her guilty pleasures in a candid interview. Born in Manchester, Wilcox moved to London at 17 to join the National Youth Theatre and later starred in Jack Rosenthal's 1970 sitcom The Lovers, which ran for two series and became a film. Her television credits also include The Liver Birds, Man About the House, Miss Jones and Son, and two characters in Coronation Street. On stage, she performed in Shirley Valentine, Great Expectations, and Canary. Recent TV work includes Trying, The Cleaner, Avoidance, and Channel 5's new drama The Fortune. She is married and lives in London.
Greatest fear and pet peeves
When asked about her greatest fear, Wilcox replied: 'Being run over by a cyclist on a pavement or pedestrian crossing, because it’s nearly happened too frequently.' She deplores impatience in herself and complaining about the weather in others, noting, 'There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.'
Superpowers and happiness
Wilcox described herself as 'impatient, funny, worrier' and said her superpower would be to fly, recalling her role as Peter Pan: 'When I played Peter Pan I flew in a harness, and that’s a fantastic feeling.' She finds unhappiness in having nothing to do and fears aging because it may prevent her from 'running up the tube steps or going somewhere under your own steam.'
Fame and guilty pleasures
Reflecting on fame, Wilcox would choose anonymity over fame: 'The fame thing was such a shock when I was first in Coronation Street. I played Janice Langton – she was 17 and had run away from borstal – and the day after the first episode went out, I was at the shops and people started shouting my Coronation Street name, and I didn’t know what to do.' Her guiltiest pleasure is Bovril, and she described love as 'Wow.'
Worst job and life lessons
Wilcox said she has never hated a job, noting temp work was fun. If not herself, she would like to be an interpreter, as she used to speak Spanish, French, and German. She cries often at films, especially Meet Me in St. Louis with her mother. She is currently writing her will and keeps changing her mind. To improve her quality of life, she would want 'a driver or a helicopter.'
Sleep and legacy
Wilcox stays awake worrying, especially when working on exciting projects: 'I can be awake like an excited child looking forward to going on holiday.' When asked to choose between more sex, money, or fame, she replied: 'How sad to have to choose. Let’s have it all.' She wants to be remembered as 'good fun' and says the most important lesson life has taught her is 'Keep going.' On death, she said: 'Who cares?'
